What a merry throng we 12 made in the shelter of the hides on this drear January morning. The feeders were busy with tits , finches and buntings , accompanied by a hopeful hen Pheasant lurking for scraps below. Bullfinches added a welcome splash of colour in the gloom as did the glowing yellow rump of a Grey Wagtail showing well on nearby posts.
Eventually Paul called time and we progressed towards Brackenfield Church seeing two Little Grebes , a female Goldeneye , and several Snipe fly in to join the Lapwing flock on the shore.
Light levels became exceedingly poor , everything and everyone became soggier as the intensity of the rain increased and so we headed for home as it turned to sleet. Nevertheless 38 species had been recorded. Bleak midwinter …. not a bit of it!!
Little Grebe , Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant , Greylag Goose ,Canada Goose , Mallard , Teal , Goldeneye , Pheasant , Moorhen , Coot , Lapwing , Common Snipe , Black-headed Gull , Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon , Grey Wagtail , Pied Wagtail , Wren , Dunnock , Robin, Song Thrush , Mistle Thrush , Blackbird , Goldcrest , Long-tailed Tit , Blue Tit , Great Tit , Coal Tit , Nuthatch , Jay , Magpie , Jackdaw , Carrion Crow , Bullfinch , Chaffinch , Siskin , Reed Bunting.
Jennifer Johnson